So, tablature vs sheet music… Let’s say this first: Setting out to become a guitarist is one of the best decisions you could have ever made. First off, it’s a fairly simple instrument for learning some basic chords and singing along to your favorite songs with friends and family.
t the same time, you can take it almost anywhere with you. And if you’re striving to become a professional musician one day, the guitar is a great way to start and, with enough knowledge and exercise, you can move on from the basic stuff and become a true virtuoso and a composer.
But the thing is, many beginners could be discouraged with the amount of new stuff there is to learn. For instance, starting out on standard notation can be a bit tricky. Yes, it’s an important skill you need to learn if you want to become a good musician. On the other hand, the process of learning notation might take too long and be somewhat confusing. The thing is, knowing how to read notation also includes learning a lot about music theory.
However, there’s an alternative – tabs, a fairly simple number-based visually-oriented system. In this brief article, we’ll be discussing the differences and pros and cons of using notation and tabs when learning how to play guitar. So let’s begin.
Standard notation
Music notation comes as the oldest way of writing down music. In the old days, there obviously wasn’t a way for people to capture or record music. The notation that we know today was conceived during medieval times and has since evolved.
The advantage of music notation is that you look upon music not mechanically but can implement it on basically any instrument or any guitar tuning. What’s also great is that sheet music also contains a whole variety of information that makes it possible to perform the piece for anyone with the required set of skills.
Aside from the pitch, there’s also detailed information about note duration, rests, tonality, time signature, dynamics, and even certain techniques like tremolo or legato. It’s very detailed and presents a standardized and universal way to read music for performers and artists of any genre.
However, if we’re talking about beginners, those who have just taken the guitar in their hands, standard notation might get a bit too complicated. It can reach the point where the younger ones get discouraged to move onwards. They think there’ll be no other way to start learning how to perform musical pieces they like, and give up.
Tablature and chord diagrams
And then we have tablature. Tabs are defined as a visual-oriented numerical system used for fretted instruments. The system also found use with some wind as well as keyboard-based instruments. The first historical documents of tabs instead of notation are from the late 13th and the early 14th century, used for nutating music for organs. However, tabs found the most widespread use for guitars.
The system features 6 lines, with each line representing one string. You can also accomodate the system for basses or extended-range guitars or alternative tunings. On standard guitar tabs, you’ll see numbers on these lines, each representing a fret where the note should be played. Like notation, you read it from left to right, and follow it note by note, or chord by chord.
Tablature vs sheet music
The advantage of such a system is its simplicity and accessibility. You can basically read any kind of music, even learn more intricate lead parts with ease. In fact, guitar tabs have made it possible for beginners to start learning music they like much quicker. This not only gives instant gratification but also motivates young musicians to further explore their instruments and practice technique.
Tabs can also include additional information, in some cases even note values and rests. It’s also worth noting that using tabs requires you to listen to the song or the specific song parts that you’re trying to learn. This way, you’re connecting what you’re hearing with what you’re playing on the guitar’s fretboard. Of course, the info about the techniques you should in certain parts can also be added to tabs. This includes palm muting, legato, hammer-ons and pull-offs, and others.
There are a few downsides though. One of them is that longterm tab users might tend to look at things too “mechanically” and become too dependent in the long run. Look at it as sort of a “cheat sheet” where you don’t have to try to hard to make out and learn certain parts by ear. In addition, sheet music is universal. This means you can implement it on any instrument and any tuning and look at music as music, not just a string of numbers telling you which frets to press. Another downside, compared to notation, is that you need to rewrite tabs for different tunings.
Conclusion
Ultimately, tabs are one of the best and most effective methods for beginners to start learning guitar. Now, don’t get us wrong – no one is saying that tabs are the only way to go. For instance, certain practices require that you start learning how to read notation straight away. This is usually the case with those who decide on becoming classical guitarists. Quite often, you’ll find no use of tablature in conventional teaching programs for young classical music enthusiasts.
But what we’re trying to say is that tablature, in most cases, presents an easier and more accessible way of learning music as a beginner. By giving them a quicker way to learn the songs they like, beginner guitar players will feel encouraged to keep exploring the world of music. In the later stages of playing, you might be advised to learn how to read sheet music and learn music by ear. This is especially the case if you’re planning to become a pro.
And even if you’re an intermediate player, tabs are a great reference for complicated guitar parts. We hope you learned something today new when it comes to the topic of tablature vs sheet music. Stay safe, folks!
Image source: Wikipedia
